Endotracheal tube securing device and method

ABSTRACT

A disposable device for securing an in-service endotracheal tube or the like to a patient and method are disclosed. The securing device comprises a length of flexible tape having a non-adhesive central portion with bifurcated ends which are adhesively coated on one side. Peelable strips of film overly the adhesive coating for protection until the device is used. In one embodiment the securing device is stored in a convenient dispenser wherein a plurality of individual securing devices, formed end-to-end lengthwise of an elongated strip of tape, are detachably wound onto a reel. The securing device is applied by looping the central portion under the neck of an intubated patient, drawing the bifurcated ends across the patient&#39;&#39;s cheeks and successively wrapping the free ends around the tube to secure it against movement.

United States Patent [191 Schultz Dec. 23, 1975 ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE SECURING DEVICE AND METHOD Kenneth E. Schultz, 7601 SW. 117th St., Miami, Fla. 33156 [22] Filed: Aug. 1, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 493,920

[76] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 128/351; 24/9; 24/DlG. ll; 128/D1G. 26; 128/155 [51] Int. Cl. A61M 25/02 [58] Field of Search 128/348, 349, 350 R, 351, 128/D1G. 26, 169-171, 155, 163, 164; 24/9, 17 A, 17 B, 17 AP, DIG. 11; 248/205 A, 231

3,713,448 l/1973 Arrott 128/351 Primary ExaminerDalton L. Truluck Attorney, Agent, or FirmWigman & Cohen [57] ABSTRACT A disposable device for securing an in-service endotracheal tube or the like to a patient and method are disclosed. The securing device comprises a length of flexible tape having a non-adhesive central portion with bifurcated ends which are adhesively coated on one side. Peelable strips of film overly the adhesive coating for protection until the device is used. In one embodiment the securing device is stored in a convenient dispenser wherein a plurality of individual securing devices, formed end-to-end lengthwise of an elongated strip of tape, are detachably wound onto a reel. The securing device is applied by looping the central portion under the neck of an intubated patient, drawing the bifurcated ends across the patients cheeks and successively wrapping the free ends around the tube to secure it against movement.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,927,676

H Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,927,676

ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE SECURING DEVICE AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to surgical intubation and more particularly to a medical device for retentively affixing an endotracheal tube to an intubated patient to prevent dislodgment of the tube when positioned during use. The present invention also relates to an improved method for maintaining an endotracheal tube in a fixed position.

Many surgical procedures, as well as emergency medical treatment of acute and chronic respiratory inefficiency, often require endotracheal or nasotracheal intubation to enable artificial ventilation of a patients lungs. Intubation involves the insertion of an inflatable balloon attached to one end of a tube into the trachea via the mouth or nose. Prior methods of afiixing an endotracheal tube to prevent its movement from a desired position include taping the tube to the patients cheeks with conventional adhesive tape. This method is oftentimes unsuccessful, especially in acute situations, inasmuch as the patients face is likely to be covered with saliva or vomitus which prevents the tape from properly adhering to the skin. One suggested method of overcoming this problem is to apply adhesive sprays to the patients face to improve the adhesion of the tape. However, this procedure has not been altogether successful.

Others have recognized the need for a securing device that will retain an endotracheal tube even in the presence of facial saliva or the like as above-noted. One such device is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,713,448 which shows a disposable endotracheal tube holder having a pair of tubular ear loops adapted to encircle the ears of a patient. Each ear loop is provided with a clamp for adjustably securing the ear loops to the ends of a length of adhesive tape wrapped about an external portion of the endotracheal tube. One disadvantage of the above device is that several components must be combined to effect retention of the tube. In emergency situations the added complexity makes it difficult to afiix the tube in a short period of time. Moreover, the ear loops are relatively bulky and costly. Thus, it will become apparent that there still exists a need in the art for a disposable medical device for securing an endotracheal tube quickly and effectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The endotracheal tube securing device of the present invention is an economical, unitary, disposable member which can be rapidly and reliably employed to retain an in-service endotracheal tube in a desired position. The securing device comprises a length of flexible tape having a non-adhesive central portion adapted to be looped about a patients neck and bifurcated ends coated on one side with an adhesive for retentively securing the tube by successively wrapping the bifurcated ends around the tube. In one embodiment, a plurality of securing devices are pre-formed end-to-end along the length of a long strip of tape which is then wound on a reel for convenient dispensing and compact storage. The strip of tape is transversely and longitudinally perforated to facilitate detachment of an individual securing device and bifurcation of the ends thereof.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the reliability of endotracheal tube securing devices in the presence of fluids, e.g., saliva, covering the face of an intubated patient.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact, unitary device for securing an in-service endotracheal tube to a patient.

A further object is to provide a low cost yet effective disposable endotracheal tube securing device which includes an elongated flexible tape member having portions adjacent opposite ends covered with adhesive, the end portions being readily severable longitudinally.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple yet improved method of securing an endotracheal tube to an intubated patient.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRHEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the endotracheal tube securing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a dispensing arrangement for providing the endotracheal tube securing device.

FIGS. 3-5 are perspective views illustrating a method of applying the present endotracheal tube securing device to an intubated patient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a single disposable endotracheal tube securing device 10 embodying novel features in accordance with the present invention. The securing device 10 comprises an elongated strip 12 of flexible tape-like material having a central portion 14 and two longitudinally bifurcated end portions 16, 18. One side of each of the end portions 16, 18 is provided with an adhesive coating 21. Peelable strips of film 22, which may be plastic-coated paper or any other suitable release material, overly the adhesive coating 20 of the'end portions 16, 18 to protect the adhesive characteristics of the coating until the securing device is ready to be utilized.

Preferably, the strip 12 is made of a material similar to that used for the manufacture of conventional adhesive tape, for example, a fabric, plastic or paper ribbon. As will be subsequently described in detail herein, the securing device 10 is adapted to be drawn under the neck of a patient such that the central portion 14 of strip 12 contacts the patients neck and cheeks. Accordingly, the contacting surface of central portion 14 should not include any exposed adhesive in order to prevent undesirable adhesion of the central portion 14 to the patients hair and skin. Preferably, central portion 14 does not include any adhesive. However, it may be desirable under certain circumstances to provide a strip totally covered with adhesive. In that instance, a protective layer covering the central portion would be provided.

The width of the strip l2-is not critical. However, 1 inch wide adhesive tape has been found to achieve satisfactory results.

A preferred form of dispensing the endotracheal tube securing device of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. A long length of tape 24 is pre-formed with a plurality of substantially identical securing devices the end boundaries of which are defined by the series of perforations which can be circular, or any other configuration. The tape 24 is wound upon itself onto a reel 28 which may be fabricated of metal, plastic, paper, or other suitable material. Obviously, other reel configurations than that shown in FIG. 2 are possible.

Each of the separate securing devices 10' of the tape 24 is arranged in end-to-end relation lengthwise of the tape 24 which, when needed, can be readily detached from the reel 28 by tearing or cutting at the perforations 30. The side of each end portion 32 facing the reel 28 is coated with an adhesive 34 while both sides of central portion 14 are preferably uncoated for reasons hereinabove described. The secured end portion 32 is detached from the next adjacent member to release one securing device 10'. The end portions 32 are then readily bifurcated by tearing or cutting along each of the longitudinal series of perforations 38, readying the securing device 10 for immediate use by the doctor, nurse, etc.

It should also be apparent that the protective strips of film 22 in FIG. 1 are unnecessary in the securing device dispensing arrangement of FIG. 2. Ifdesired, the securing device may be fabricated and packaged separately according to a patients neck size to accommodate patients of different physical sizes, for example, children and adults.

The method by which an in-service endrotracheal tube is secured to a patient according to the invention may be more clearly understood by reference to FIGS. 3-5. In FIG. 3 an endotracheal tube has been inserted into the trachea of a patient and a portion of the tube is shown protruding from one side of the patients mouth. A securing device 10 of FIG. 1 with strips of film 22 removed is looped about the back of the patients neck and drawn upwardly with the end portions 16, 18 approximately even with each other as shown in the drawing. The end portions 16, 18 include bifurcated movable legs or members 42, 44 and 46, 48, respectively.

Now referring to FIG. 4, the end portion 16, adjacent the side of the patients mouth from which the tube portion 40 protrudes, is drawn against the patients cheek so that the two free members 42, 44 straddle the tube portion 40. Each member 42, 44 is then successively looped one-half turn around the tube portion 40 in close proximity to the patients mouth and adhesively affixed to the central portion of the securing device 10 as shown. Affixing the members 42, 44 to the central portion of the securing device 10 rather than to the patients skin advantageously avoids the loss of adhesiveness due to the presence of moisture on the patients face and eliminates the need to spray or coat the facial skin with an adhesive substance.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, the two free members 46, 48 of end portion 18 are drawn respectively above and below the patients mouth. The members 46, 48 are then adhesively secured to the tube portion 40 by successively wrapping them several turns around the tube. In this manner, the patients mouth is left unobstructed should it become necessary, for example, to

4 suction fluids or vomitus from the patients mouth and throat. When the patients condition no longer requires intubation, the securing device may be conveniently and easily detached from the patient by merely severing the central portion of the device.

The above-described method is only one technique of using the securing device of the present invention to adhesively affix an endotracheal tube to an intubated patient without attaching the adhesive members of the device to the patients skin. Many modifications of the present securing device and variations of the present method are possible in light of the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A disposable device for securing an in-service endotracheal tube to an intubated patient comprising an elongated strip of flexible tape of a predetermined width, the width of said strip being substantially greater than the thickness thereof, said strip having a nonadhesive central portion of sufficient length to be nonadheringly positioned about the patients neck, end portions extending oppositely from the central portion, at least one of said end portions including means for facilitating bifurcation of said at least one end portion, said means being located substantially intermediate the width of said strip, each of said end portions having an adhesive coating on one side thereof for adhesively securing said end portions to said tube whereby when the central portion is positioned about the intubated patients neck, the end portions can be drawn around and secured to the endotracheal tube to thereby prevent dislodgment of said tube.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein each of said end portions includes means for facilitating bifurcation, said means comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced perforations disposed intermediate the width of the end portions of said strip.

3. A device according to claim 1 including a peelable film overlying the adhesive coating of each of said end portions for protecting the adhesiveness of said coating until said device is used.

4. The securing device according to claim 1 arranged in end-to-end relation with another such device to form an elongated length of tape adapted to be wound lengthwise upon itself on a support for dispensing purposes.

5. The securing device according to claim 1 including a series of perforations disposed tranversely across the width of said tape at the end boundaries of each of said securing devices for ready separation from a next adjacent device.

6. A method of securing an in-service endotracheal tube to an intubated patient comprising the steps of:

looping an elongated strip of flexible tape non-adheringly around the back of the patients neck, at least a portion of each end of said strip of tape being adhesively coated on one side thereof;

providing one of said ends of strip of tape with bifurcations to form a pair of free members at said one end thereof;

successively wrapping each of said free members at least one-half turn around said tube; and adhesively securing said free members to said tube whereby dislodgment thereof is prevented.

7. The method according to claim 6 further including the step of:

9. The method according to claim 6 further including the step of:

providing both ends of said strip of tape with bifurcations to form a pair of free members at each end thereof, and drawing the bifurcations of both of said ends above and below the mouth of the patient to thereby straddle said tube with the free members of each end of said strip of tape.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE EERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,927,676

DATED December 23, 1975 INVENTOR( Kenneth E. Schultz It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 46, change "21" to --20--.

Signed and Scaled this fifteenth D f June 1976 lE'oEAE-B A ttes r:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (ommisal'uner nflalem: and Trademarks 

1. A disposable device for securing an in-service endotracheal tube to an intubated patient comprising an elongated strip of flexible tape of a predetermined width, the width of said strip being substantially greater than the thickness thereof, said strip having a non-adhesive central portion of sufficient length to be nonadheringly positioned about the patient''s neck, end portions extending oppositely from the central portion, at least one of said end portions including means for facilitating bifurcation of said at least one end portion, said means being located substantially intermediate the width of said strip, each of said end portions having an adhesive coating on one side thereof for adhesively securing said end portions to said tube whereby when the central portion is positioned about the intubated patient''s neck, the end portions can be drawn around and secured to the endotracheal tube to thereby prevent dislodgment of said tube.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein each of said end portions includes means for facilitating bifurcation, said means comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced perforations disposed intermediate the width of the end portions of said strip.
 3. A device according to claim 1 including a peelable film overlying the adhesive coating of each of said end portions for protecting the adhesiveness of said coating until said device is used.
 4. The securing device according to claim 1 arranged in end-to-end relation with another such device to form an elongated length of tape adapted to be wound lengthwise upon itself on a support for dispensing purposes.
 5. The securing device according to claim 1 including a series of perforations disposed tranversely across the width of said tape at the end boundaries of each of said securing devices for ready separation from a next adjacent device.
 6. A method of securing an in-service endotracheal tube to an intubated patient comprising the steps of: looping an elongated strip of flexible tape non-adheringly around the back of the patient''s neck, at least a portion of each end of said strip of tape being adhesively coated on one side thereof; providing one of said ends of strip of tape with bifurcations to form a pair of free members at said one end thereof; successively wrapping each of said free members at least one-half turn around said tube; and adhesively securing said free members to said tube whereby dislodgment thereof is prevented.
 7. The method according to claim 6 further including the step of: adhesively securing the ends of said free members to the portion of said strip of tape looped around the patient''s neck.
 8. The method according to claim 6 further including the step of: drawing the bifurcations of said one end above and below the mouth of the patient to thereby straddle said tube with said free members.
 9. The method according to claim 6 further including the step of: providing both ends of said strip of tape with bifurcations to form a pair of free members at each end thereof, and drawing the bifurcations of both of said ends above and below the mouth of the patient to thereby straddle said tube with the free members of each end of said strip of tape. 